collender



UNITED srafrns 'rarnnr carica.

H. W. COLLENDER, OF NEIN YORK, N. Y.

BILLIARD-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,064, dated November 16, 1858..

ToI all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, I-I. lV. COLLENDER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Billiard-Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a perspective view of one corner of a billiard table constructed on my improved plan; Fig. 2, a vertical section; Fig. 3, a face view of one of the cushions removed from the table; and Fig. 4, a separate view of a cushion adapted for tables with pockets.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the gures.

My said invention relates toa mode of applying steel cushions to billiard tables and in combining therewith a ledge or flanch like projection outside of the cushion and on or nearly on a level with the bed of the table to form a support for the hand when playing with the ball against or near to the cushion.

In the accompanying drawings (a) represents the bed of the table, which may be of any suitable construction, but with the edge all around beveled inward from the under to the upper surface as represented in the accompanying drawings. The cushions (o) are formed of strips of steel of uniform thickness from end to end, and of a width equal to the thickness of the bed and the required projection of the cushion above the surface of the bed. If for a carom table there should be four such strips, one for each end, and one for each side of the table. Slots (c) are made in the said strips from the lower edge at given distances apart, for the passage of screws (d) and these strips are to be covered with cloth (e) folded over the upper edge and extended down on each side, and the ends are to be beveled as represented. But if such cushions are to be applied to tab-les with pockets I propose to bend the ends of the steel strips as represented at Fig. 4t, the part being limited to the upper portion of the width of the strip instead of extending the whole width of the strip. The object of this is to give that part of the cushion the form of the opening to the pocket. These strips of steel are laid against the beveled edges of the bed and then firmly clamped by flanch like strips (g) of about the thickness of the bed, the screws (d) passing through the tlanch strips (g) and the slots in the steel strips, and taking into the bed; other equivalent means may be substituted for the screws. The inner edge of the flanch like strips (g) are beveled the reverse of the edges of the bed, and, by screwing, bolting, or otherwise securing them to the bed, the steel strips are firmly clamped and held at an inclination equal to the bevel of the edges of the bed. By means of the slots or what is equivalent, elongated holes, the height of the upper edge of the cushion above the bed can be regulated at pleasure, so that the projection of the cushions can be at any time, adjusted to suit the diameter of the balls to be used, by simply loosening the screws and moving the steel springs and then clamping up the parts.

I have contemplated the application of set screws below the bed of the table to act on the edge of the steel strips for the purpose of more readily adjusting the height of the cushions, but as such means of adjustment are well known to the arts as applied to other purposes, it is deemed unnecessary to give a particular description of such means.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by the mode of construction and application above described of the steel cushions a uniform elasticity can be obtained which will be more perfect than by any other known mode of constructing. The connection of the steel cushions with the table will be more firm and a more equal elasticity will be obtained than by any other known mode of construction, for the reason that the part of the spring strips projecting above the surface of the bed will be unbroken in any part of the length. The height of the cushion can be readily adapted to the diameter of the balls thereby avoiding the inconvenience of having too great a height of cushion when the balls are small so that the ball canbe reached by the cue however small the balls may be, and preventing the ball from hopping or jumping when playing with large balls, for the inner face of the cushion being flat and inclined it need not be much higher than the semidiameter of the ball. In this way I am enabled to obtain in a simple and cheap way all the advantages long since sought to be obtained by the use of steel spring cushions. And finally by the employment of the flanch like strips outside of the cushions, and on or nearly on a level with the bed, not only do I obtain a irm means for clamping and securing the cushions, but at the same time I am enabled to secure What has long been desired, an elicient rest and support for the hand outside the cushion to admit of readily playing With the ball close to the cushion. The inivard inclination to be given to the cushions should be such as to prevent the hopping of the ball, the inclination represented in the drawings being that which I have found in practice to be the best.

I am aware that strips of steel have been used as cushions for billiard tables, but in such cases the strips have been secured above the bed of the table to cushion blocks or frames of the usual construction, and therefore I do not Wish to be understood as making claim broadly to the use of strips of steel for the cushions of billiard tables.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The manner, substantially as herein described, of applying steel springs as cushions to billiard tables, by clamping the lower portion thereof to the edge of the bed, as set forth.

2. And I also claim making the height of Vthe cushions above the bed of the table ad justable, substantially as described, that they may be adapted to balls of different dialneter, as set forth.

3. And I also claim combining with the bed and cushions applied substantially as herein described a lanch or ledge outside of the cushions on a level with the bed, or nearly so, substantially as described, to form a rest for the hand when playing with the ball near to the cushion, as set forth.

H. W. COLLENDER. lVitnesses ANDREW DE LACY, IVM. H. BISHOP. 

